3 young children found dead after fast-moving NY house fire

HERKIMER, N.Y. (AP) — The remains of three young boys were recovered Friday from the charred rubble of an upstate New York home that was quickly consumed by fire just before dawn.

Two parents awakened by smoke detectors before 6 a.m. tried to save the boys from the rapidly spreading fire but were unable to, WKTV reported . The adults exited the home in this modest Mohawk Valley village and then attempted to go back in but weren't able to reach the children, aged 1, 6, and 7.

"There was a very heavy fire load," Herkimer Fire Chief John Spanfelner told the Observer-Dispatch of Utica. The fire "went through the whole house very quickly."

All five people had been sleeping on the first floor of the older two-story home, according to Spanfelner.

The unidentified adults were treated at the scene by first responders, but details on their conditions were not immediately available. The bodies of the boys were found with the help of police dogs.

Firefighters battling the blaze in frigid temperatures had to rotate shifts to stay warm. Fire crews remained on the scene for hours putting out the smoking debris.

Officials did not immediately release the identities of the young victims.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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